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The Structure of Sensorimotor Explanation

Vernazzani, Alfredo (2018) The Structure of Sensorimotor Explanation. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The sensorimotor theory of vision and visual consciousness is often described as a radical alternative to the computational and connectionist orthodoxy in the study of visual perception. However, it is far from clear whether the theory represents a significant departure from orthodox approaches or whether it is an enrichment of it. In this study, I tackle this issue by focusing on the explanatory structure of the sensorimotor theory. I argue that the standard formulation of the theory subscribes to the same theses of the dynamical hypothesis and that it affords covering-law explanations. This however exposes the theory to the mere description worry and generates a puzzle about the role of representations. I then argue that the sensorimotor theory is compatible with a mechanistic framework, and show how this can overcome the mere description worry and solve the problem of the explanatory role of representations. By doing so, it will be shown that the theory should be understood as an enrichment of the orthodoxy, rather than an alternative.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Vernazzani, Alfredo
Keywords: Mechanisms, Sensorimotor Theory of Visual Perception, Perception, Dynamicism, Dynamical Models, Explanation, Mere Description Worry
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User: Dr. Alfredo Vernazzani
Date Deposited: 21 Dec 2017 17:54
Last Modified: 21 Dec 2017 17:54
Item ID: 14231
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
Date: 2018
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14231

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